The differential effects of three forms of interferon alfa on hepatic regeneration after partial hepatectomy in the rat.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether all commercially available forms of interferon alfa (INF alpha) have the same inhibitory effect on hepatic regeneration and whether this inhibitory effect can be prevented by putrescine, a hepatic growth promotor. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 92) received either IFN alpha-2a, 2b, n1, or saline, 0 and 18 hours after partial hepatectomy (PHx) or 16 hours before PHx. A subgroup of 29 rats being treated with IFn alpha-2a or saline also received putrescine (5, 50, or 500 mg/kg) 16 hours before PHx. Hepatic regeneration was documented by determining [3H]-thymidine incorporation into hepatic DNA (DNA synthesis), hepatic putrescine levels, and, in selected cases, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity at 24 hours after PHx. The results of the study showed that hepatic regeneration was unaffected when IFN alpha was administered 0 and 18 hours after PHx. When administered at -16 hours, only IFN alpha-2a significantly inhibited DNA synthesis and was associated with decreased hepatic putrescine levels. Inhibition was dose-dependent in that a 10-fold increase in IFN alpha-2a caused a further decrease in both DNA synthesis and hepatic putrescine levels. At the higher dose, IFN alpha-2b and n1 also inhibited DNA synthesis and lowered hepatic putrescine levels and ODC activity. Exogenous putrescine (5 and 50 mg/kg) restored hepatic regenerative activity to normal but was toxic at high concentrations (500 mg/kg). These data indicate that not all commercially available forms of IFN alpha inhibit hepatic regeneration in the rat to the same extent.